Midland man sentenced in intoxication manslaughter case

From staff reports

Published 6:18 am, Friday, September 27, 2013

Midlander Alfred Lee Rice was sentenced Thursday to 50-year and 60-year prison terms for his conviction on one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of intoxication manslaughter in the death of Benita Harmon, also of Midland, on Nov. 16 of last year, according to a press release from Assistant District Attorney Andrew van der Hoeven.

Judge George Gilles, of the 142nd District Court, sentenced Rice after hearing testimony from Harmon’s family. The sentences will be served concurrently, van der Hoeven said.

Trial testimony indicated that on Nov. 16, Rice was driving northbound on Lamesa Road and collided with a vehicle as the driver pulled out from a stop sign at the intersection of Lamesa and Walnut Lane.

Midland Police Department’s investigation showed that Rice was driving a minimum of 78 mph on a stretch of road where the speed limit is 35 mph and that he did not attempt to apply the brakes before impact.

Rice, Harmon -- who was a passenger in Rice’s car -- and the other driver were transported to Midland Memorial Hospital. Harmon died en route.

It was later discovered that Rice had a blood alcohol level of 0.256, according to the press release.